- In his weekly radio address, President Bush
called on Congress to enact reasonable legislation to prohibit genetic
discrimination in employment and health insurance.

- The President also announced that he has
tasked his Administration with working with Congress to develop
sensible legislation that addresses the complex legal and scientific
issues involved.

Background on President Bush's Action

- On February 12, 2001 scientists announced
their completion of a map of 95% of the human genetic code. Scientists
have found that humans are 99.9% identical at the genetic level, but
the 0.1% that is different holds important clues to susceptibility or
resistance to disease.

- This development could provide valuable
information about diseases. Differences in our genes have been tied to
3000 to 4000 diseases like cystic fibrosis, cancer, Alzheimer's,
diabetes, schizophrenia and heart disease. As science advances, genetic
testing will become cheaper, more reliable and more
available. Scientists estimate that by 2010 tests for
genetic predisposition to 25 major causes of illnesses and death will
be widely available.

- These scientific developments raise serious
moral and legal questions. For example, although medical conditions
have been linked to certain genetic markers, there is no certainty that
many of these diseases will actually develop. But there is
growing concern that employers and insurance companies will use genetic
information to discriminate by denying jobs or insurance coverage to
individuals who have predictive genetic markers for certain
diseases. There is also a concern that current laws have not
kept pace with the issues raised by the scientific and technological
progress of genetics.

- As Governor of Texas, President Bush signed
legislation in 1997 that prohibits genetic discrimination in employment
and group health plans.

- President Bush believes that it is inherently
unfair to deny insurance or employment to Americans who are healthy but
have a genetic predisposition for a condition that may never develop.
Without legislation, individuals do not have complete and certain
protection against genetic discrimination. The leading
scientists behind the mapping of the human genetic code have expressed
concern that the absence of legislation could have an impact on
genetics research in the long-term.

- President Bush wants to work with Congress to
enact genetic discrimination legislation that is fair, reasonable and
consistent with existing laws to prevent discrimination.